More Than a Statistic

Saturday, February 10, 2018

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

So many times we separate this passage reminding ourselves to be humble, to give God our cares, to resist the devil, but it all goes together, and with the entire Bible, it's so important to take it in the context.

The section is written to those who are younger, who don't have as much experience yet are obviously being tried. These truths are important for any stage in life though. Humility in trials means that we are to rest under his hand, let Him take care of us, let Him take our anxieties. During these times, we are especially susceptible to the the devil because we are struggling. We may be weaker than normal, but under the care of Jesus, we can be safe. Even in his care, though, the passage tells us to resist, be firm in our faith, and to remind ourselves that others throughout the world are in this same position.

The realization that we are not the only ones suffering is an important one. It's a selfless realization that can carry us through trials with the Lord's help. He wants us to remember other believers. He doesn't want our focus to be on self. A self focus can cause anxiety to worsen, and ultimately, it is pride.

In the end, our suffering in the whole scheme of things is just a short time. God promises to restore us, confirm us, strengthen us, and establish us. I believe that these things will happen on earth or for some it may not be until heaven. Either way, in comparison to eternity, it is only a short time of suffering. We must keep our eyes focused on the truth of eternity as we go through difficult times while resting under the hand of God and trusting ourselves to His care. We must not forget in all of this to keep our heads and be sober minded and watchful, so that we never let down our guard letting Satan get a foot-hold during our suffering.

Ultimately, this passage shows us our responsibilities and what God promises in our suffering. We must accept our responsibilities and trust God to follow through on His promises.

Friday, February 2, 2018

Everyone needs their coffee for the day. When I think of coffee, I think comfort. For others it might be a cup of tea that brings this comfort, to others it might be a piece of dark chocolate. We all have things that offer comfort when we need it. Physical comforts are necessary as are spiritual comforts.

As a Christians, we have the Comforter- The Holy Spirit living within us. We have the comfort of Jesus who is Emmanuel and offers the comfort of "God with us." We have the Father, who by this very names is a comfort as to many of us, our earthly fathers have brought and bring us comfort.

There are times in life when we need comfort. As a caregiver, comfort is something that I often need. The knowledge that someone understands is a comfort. As caregivers to our son, my husband and I have needed comfort. Man has not always provided the comfort that we have needed as most people do not understand unless they have been there themselves. We have been so thankful for those who have tried to understand and who have done everything they could to understand and help us in times of trial as caregivers and parents to a child with special needs. There have been times though when we have felt alone. In those times, I know it is important for us to remember that we are not alone. We have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, whether a caregiver or not, we have these three. There will be times where our decisions will be unpopular, but what is important is that you know you have made the right decision based on your relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In these times when you feel alone, once again, you are not.

As we begin our day, whether it's with a steaming cup of coffee or some other comfort, remember the Comforter who is always with us.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

I wanted to share a quick post for those who follow me around the world.

We had a high risk ultrasound today to see if our new baby has any birth defects. We are so thankful for the Lord's mercy, that this baby looks healthy. He has a perfect heart (according to the doctor), he has two normal sized kidneys, and he has been swallowing fluid and filling his stomach. Each of these things mean something to us, because our youngest had problems in these areas, and they ultimately were signs of CHARGE syndrome.

A great burden is lifted after this appointment. God is good no matter what, but I'm so thankful He chose to show us mercy in this way.

Monday, January 1, 2018

As I was headed in 2018 on New Years Eve, I began reading in 2 Corinthians. Some of my past posts have been on trials and suffering and thoughts one why we go through these things. Although, God likely has many reasons for what we go through, I love it when He points out specific reasons. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, we see that "if we are afflicted, it is for your (others) comfort and salvation." Our afflictions are for the purpose of comforting others and bringing them to salvation. We see that Christ's afflictions were for the same purpose - our comfort and salvation, and now as Christians, our purpose is the same. There will always be afflicted people with afflictions bigger than ours or less than ours. We need to keep in mind this purpose of God's in our afflictions. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, "3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in [a]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are [b]ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort."https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+1%3A3-7&version=NASB

Sunday, December 17, 2017

John 10:9-10, "I am the door: by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

The offering of Christ in this passage is so much more than salvation. Salvation is just the beginning. We enter in to His fold and are saved, but then after we have trusted Him for salvation, we have something else.

We have freedom in Christ. We can go in and out and find pasture. As a member of Christ's flock, we are able to stay in the warmth of the fold or go out and feed on the pastures that He has provided for us. In both places, we are protected as we are under the watchful care of the Shepherd.

In contrast to the door of Christ, we see the thief in verse 10. The thief's sole purpose is not freedom. It is death. Christ reminds us, however, that He is come that we might have life and an abundant one at that.

Our salvation and freedom in Christ offers us an abundant life spiritually both in this life and in the next.

Friday, December 15, 2017

We start to believe that we deserve the goodness of God. If we believe this lie of our own flesh, then we will be often disappointed.

We won't be disappointed because we don't see God's goodness, but we will be disappointed if we expect every circumstance to go exactly the way we want it to go.

God is good, and in every circumstance He is good no matter if it is how we would have it or not.

His mercy is what allows us His goodness. Even as a Christian we don't deserve anything. We get to be a Christian because of Christ's grace in salvation by giving us something good that we don't deserve and His mercy in not giving us what we do.

In life circumstances, as we pray, we have to remember these truths. Expect His goodness, but pray for mercy that God would not allow the bad to happen. Revel in His grace that he gives to get us through circumstances and in the grace that gives us the good.

The attributes of God are tied together more tightly than I think we all realize. They are not simply separate traits, but they are intertwined to give us the Perfect and All-knowing God who loved us and sent His Son to die, so that we did not have to die - the ultimate sacrifice.

Daily we can see this sacrifice of mercy as we ask for it, and we can see His grace even when His mercy does not bring what we hope. We can see his goodness knowing that He sees the big picture. He sees the end and ultimate purpose which may have nothing to do with us or this earthly life.

I'm reminded of a message my husband recently preached about God's purposes in life. God allowed Mary and Joseph to live in an area far away from where Jesus was prophesied to be born, yet He had a plan, and had the taxation/census take place at just the right time.

No matter where we are at the moment, God will ultimately put us where He wants us, even if it takes a 70 mile trip across the dessert - something I can't imagine while pregnant, but Mary was carrying the Son of God. It's wonderful to know though, that we are just as important to God as that Son as everything God did from the moment He created us was to push us in the direction of redemption and ultimately glorifying Him in heaven someday.

God is good. He is merciful and gracious. He is all of these things even though we don't deserve it.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

I've had a lot of friends and acquaintances use the term "Rainbow baby" for a child born after the loss of a child or after a child is born with special needs.

I can't bring myself to use the term. I feel this way for more than one reason.

The reason for the term, as I understand it, is that this new child is a blessing after a difficulty - similar to the rainbow of God's promise after the flood.

My problem with the term is that the trial we went through in losing a child or having a child with special needs is not a punishment or a curse. Hard - yes. Impossible to smile through at times - yes, but the promise of God existed even in that time. The rainbow was not bright, but the presence of God was there even then.

My baby that is due in April would be considered a "Rainbow baby" on two fronts. He/she follows a miscarriage and a sibling born with special needs. I just don't feel right about my next child being considered "special" in this light simply because he/she followed difficulties. I personally want to focus on who this child is not on who they are not. It will be a blessing to have a healthy baby if that is God's plan, but that child is special as a creation of God.

I'm not offended if others use the term for their children, but I would appreciate others not use the term for our new baby. We are praying he/she will be healthy, and God is in control of that.

This is the first some of my readers have heard of this. Our new baby will be born, Lord willing, on April 16th via c-section. We appreciate your prayers!